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Miche\u00e1l Martin has said talks of a Fianna F\u00e1il merger with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) to contest elections in Northern Ireland are a work in progress.<\/p>\nMiche\u00e1l Martin has said talks of a Fianna F\u00e1il merger with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) to contest elections in Northern Ireland are a work in progress.<\/p>\n
Speaking at his party\u2019s Think-In today in Malahide, Co Dublin, Mr Martin said no formal decision was made, but made reference to the abstentionist policy of elected Sinn F\u00e9in MPs who do not take their seats in Westminster.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great scandal of the moment is that the anti-Brexit majority in Northern Ireland is not represented in the Assembly, they are not represented in the executive and not represented in Westminster.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people don\u2019t want to take their seats in Westminster they should not contest the election and they should leave it open to people who want to take their seats.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two parties have talked about co-operating in the past, however these talks are part of a merger being discussed at the highest levels of both parties including SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and other senior officials.<\/p>\n
When Mr Martin was asked if his party members would swear an oath and send their party members to Westminster, he replied he would not let members contest elections and not take their seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly wouldn\u2019t contest elections and then not take our seats, that\u2019s just blocking people who could represent the anti-Brexit majority in Westminster.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made no decision in relation to the north, it is a work in progress, but we are engaged and we do accept the constitution of settlement of the Good Friday Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat settlement is of the three relationships, the north-south relationship, the British and Irish relationship and the relationship between the communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we have made no decision on that in the North just yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Margaret Richie and Mark Durkan would have been able representatives for the anti-Brexit majority in Northern Ireland and they have been denied that representation in Westminster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin recently told Fianna F\u00e1il’s ruling executive to expect developments on the party organizing in the North next month.<\/p>\n